Friday, April 10, 2009

The fasts are done; the Aves said; The moon has filled her horn And in the solemn night I watch Before the Easter morn. So pure, so still the starry heaven, So hushed the brooding air, I could hear the sweep of an angel's wings If one should earthward fare. Edna Dean Procter

Passover has a message for the conscience and the heart of all mankind. For what does it commemorate? It commemorates the deliverance of a people from degrading slavery, from most foul and cruel tyranny. And so, it is Israel's - nay, God's protest against unrighteousness, whether individual or national. Morris Joseph

On Wednesday I was so very deeply moved and honored when I was given this blogging award by "U" of the blog Any Way I Have To.

I made the decision some time ago to stop participating in the awarding of blogs because while I am so honored and appreciative of having received this one and the others, I found myself spending more time responding and passing them on than I was writing my own blog. I have posted several of these on my side bar because I do want to recognize them and I'm adding this one as well. Another reason I stopped accepting awards is because I write primarily for my own pleasure, but with the hope that I may, perhaps, have something to offer those wonderful people who visit my blogsite. The following are the prerequisites for having been chosen for this award and I hope that I do fulfill at least some of these.

1. The Blogger manifests exemplary attitude, respecting the nuances that pervades amongst different cultures and beliefs.

Thursday, April 9, 2009

The touch of an infinite mystery passes over the trivial and the familiar, making it break out into ineffable music... The trees, the stars, and the blue hills ache with a meaning which can never be uttered in words.” Rabindranath Tagore

Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be. Kahlil Gibran

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Everything comes to us that belongs to us if we create the capacity to receive it.

Rabindranath Tagore

The touch of an infinite mystery passes over the trivial and the familiar, making it break out into ineffable music... The trees, the stars, and the blue hills ache with a meaning which can never be uttered in words.

I’ve had several people ask me lately if I’ve sworn off politics and I have to admit that I simply don’t have the stomach for writing about them much these days. I’m still very happy to have Obama in the White House, I’m very happy to see fewer Republicans in the Congress, but I’m tired of the constant media attention dissecting every single word, action, non-action. I’m tired of the Republican's constant whine, wail and bitch about everything and a large number of the Democrats are just as bad. There is so much anger and sorrow and suffering, so much hunger and sickness in the world today, but I see very few of those who actually have the power to make changes doing anything more than squabbling over their own territory.

There are wonderful people who try so patiently to ease the suffering, the hunger in the world and I’m uplifted when I read blogs like Maithri’s The Soaring Impulse. And there are others out there that do all they can to make a difference, but there will never be enough. In the meantime my own country is stumbling along on the edge of another Depression and the people who could make a difference are too immersed in their own agenda to see or care about what is happening to so many people right here in the “good old US of A”!

So, at least for now I’m trying to focus on the beauty of nature, on love and caring and generosity, on the words of men like Gilbran and Tagore; as I work to lift myself out of the gutter of despair that I see/hear every day. I don’t want to sink into that space, there is more to life than that. You may have to work harder to find it, but it’s there.

So, at least for now or until I can find a constructive way to make a difference, I’ll focus on the beautiful things, the humor, the love that are always available – even if you do have to look a little harder for them.

It's time for That's My World and a chance for you to share your world with people all over the world. This a great meme generously hosted by Klaus, Sandy, Ivar, Wren, Fishing Guy and Louise. Click here to sign up and join in the fun!

Today I'd like to share one of the really outstanding sites in Seattle -- the Space Needle!The Space Needle is a tower in Seattle, Washington, and is a major landmark of the Pacific Northwest region of the United States and a symbol of Seattle. Located at the Seattle Center, it was built for the 1962 World's Fair, during which time nearly 20,000 people a day used the elevators, with over 2.3 million visitors in all for the World Fair. The Space Needle is 605 feet (184 m) high and 138 feet (42 m) wide at its widest point and weighs 9,550 tons. When it was completed it was the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River. It is built to withstand winds of up to 200 mph (320 km/h) and earthquakes up to 9.5 magnitude which would protect the structure against an earthquake as powerful as the 1700 Cascadia earthquake). The tower has 25 lightning rods on its roof to prevent lightning damage.The Space Needle features an observation deck at 520 feet (160 m), and a gift shop with the rotating SkyCity restaurant at 500 feet (152 m). From the top of the Needle, one can see not only the Downtown Seattle skyline, but also the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Mount Rainier, Mount Baker, Elliott Bay and surrounding islands. Photographs of the Seattle skyline often show the Space Needle in a prominent position, even appearing to tower above the rest of the city's skyscrapers, as well as Mount Rainier in the background. This occurs because the tower, which is equivalent in height to a 60-story building, stands roughly four-fifths of a mile (1.3 km) northwest of most downtown skyscrapers, and on a hill.Visitors can reach the top of the Space Needle via elevators that travel at 10 mph (16 km/h). The trip takes 43 seconds, and some tourists wait in hour-long lines in order to ascend to the top of the tower. On windy days, the elevators are slowed down to a speed of 5 mph. The Space Needle was designated a historic landmark on April 19, 1999 by the City's Landmarks Preservation Board.

What Can I Say?

I'm interested in almost everything. Use to like to travel, but it's too expensive now. I take Tai Chi classes, swim, volunteer in a Jump-start program for pre-schoolers. I'm an avid reader and like nearly everyone these days I follow politics avidly. I'm a former teacher and Special Projects Coordinator for a Telecommunications company, Assistant to the President of a Japanese silicon wafer manufacturing company. Am now enjoying retirement -- most of the time. I have two daughters, one son-in-law and two sons scattered all over the country. No grandchildren.

Stop Hate Starting Here

I Never Saw Another Butterfly

So richly, brightly, dazzlingly yellowPerhaps if the sun’s tears would singagainst a white stone....

Such, such a yellowIs carried lightly ’way up high.It went away I’m sure because it wished to kiss the world good-bye.

For seven weeks I’ve lived in herePenned up inside this ghetto.But I have found what I love here.The dandelions call to meAnd the white chestnut branches in the court.

Only I never saw another butterfly. That butterfly was the last one.Butterflies don’t live in here, in the ghetto.

Written by Pavel Friedman, June 4, 1942 Born in Prague on Jan. 7, 1921.Deported to the Terezin Concentration Camp on April 26, 1942. Died in Aushchwitzon Sept. 29, 1944.

Thank You, Anthony!!

Check out his blog and photos!

Chasing Ashes

I love to write and it has been a hobby for a long time. Mysteries were always my escape reading during some of the darker times of my life and I finally decided to give it a try. I've actually written seven over the years. Unfortunately, my last computer disaster resulted in my losing three of the latest four. I did manage to salvage this one.